BRUSSELS — European countries have rejected calls from the United States to deploy naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing they have no intention of engaging militarily in the escalating conflict with Iran.Following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said member states “have no desire to actively engage in military actions against Iran,” adding that Europe has “no interest in an open-ended war.”Kallas said the European Union remains focused on strengthening maritime security but confirmed there is little appetite to expand existing missions, such as Operation Aspides in the Red Sea, to include the Strait of Hormuz.“Nobody wants to go actively in this war,” she said, emphasizing that the bloc’s priority is safeguarding freedom of navigation while intensifying diplomatic efforts.Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed the position, saying EU naval missions focused on escorting merchant vessels and anti-piracy operations are not designed to operate in the Strait of Hormuz.“We are willing to strengthen these missions,” he said. “But I don’t think they can be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz.”Germany also ruled out sending forces to the Gulf, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying Berlin “will not do so” and calling for a swift political solution.German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said any deployment outside NATO’s operational area would require legal approval and parliamentary consent, stressing: “It is not our war; we did not start it. We want a diplomatic solution and a swift end to the conflict.”UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also dismissed US pressure to join a military effort, saying Britain “will not be drawn into a wider war” and that any deployment must have a legal mandate.Poland and Belgium similarly rejected calls to contribute naval assets, reaffirming their focus on diplomacy and regional stability.Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized US President Donald Trump’s stance on NATO while urging European participation, while Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever told parliament his country would not join any offensive alongside the US and Israel.Earlier Monday, Trump said “numerous countries” were preparing to assist the US in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but did not name them, citing security concerns.The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy corridor, with around 20 million barrels of oil passing through it daily before the conflict. Disruptions following Iran’s move to restrict passage have pushed oil prices higher.
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